desert lambs under tropical conditions of Sudan

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of introducing Sugar Beet bulb as a cheap substitute for grains in rations formulated for sheep fattening. Twenty four Sudanese desert lambs (Ashgur ecotype) were purchased from local markets to assess the effects of replacing grain with Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris saccharifera) Bulb on feed lot performance, carcass traits under tropical conditions of Sudan. Sugar Beet bulb was incorporated in three rations with a control ration (A: control, B, C, D) at percentages of 0, 11, 22, and 33. Results: The results showed that total weight gain and daily feed intake in group D were significantly different at (P<0.05) where values of 5.59±1.73 and 0.94± 0.13 kg were recorded. Total weight gain, daily dry matter intake, daily energy intake and feed conversion ratio were in the range of 10.67-5.59, 1.03-0.83, 0.33-0.27and 11.77-7.70 kg respectively. Treatments showed no significant differences at (P<0.05) for slaughter weight, empty body weight, dressing % on slaughter weight basis and dressing % on empty weight basis, the obtained results for these traits were 27. Plate and Neck & shoulder) weight and percentages showed no significant differences among treatments. Conclusion: It is concluded that replacing expensive grains with Beta vulgaris bulb can be practiced in sheep fattening project up to 22% with excellent results.


Introduction
Many attempts have been made to introduce unconventional new forages; especially for the Sudan is predominately an agricultural country. summer season when animals are underfed [4]. Sugar Livestock population was estimated as 140 million beet is a fleshy root crop grown usually for sugar head of which 41.1 million head of cattle, 43.1 million production [5]. It is native to temperate countries and head of goat, 51.1 million head of sheep and 4 .4 hence had been associated with temperate million head of camel [1]. Of these livestock species, environment. Despite being a temperate crop, Sugar sheep is characterized by economic importance as it beet trials have been going on in some selected tropical has good productive and reproductive merits over countries (e.g. India and South Africa) [5]. members of the family Bovidae [2]. In recent years, The objective of this study was to evaluate the there is a dramatic increase in the cost of energy effects of introducing Sugar Beet bulb as a cheap sources parallel to the increase in demand for animal substitute for grains in rations formulated for sheep feeds. This situation encouraged the nutritionist to fattening. search for cheaper high energy feed ingredients [3].

Materials and Methods
A, B, C and D. Dietary formulae utilized sorghum grains and sugar beet bulb inversely replacing each Study location: The experiment was conducted at other for the total of 33% energy supplying Rural development and extension center (University ingredients. Ration A served as the control ration. The of Gezira) and it extended for ten months. different rations were offered ad labium and fresh Experimental House: The animals were lodged in clean water was available all the time. Experimental the Animal House at the Extension and Rural feeding was continued up to ten weeks and then the Development Centre, Faculty of Animal Production, animals were slaughtered for carcass assessment. University of Gezira Managil. The house was 7x9 m Data Collection: Feed intake (kg/group) was and was bounded by metal sheets 2 m in height set over recorded daily by calculating the difference between a half-meter brick wall. Internally the house was offered feed and refused one. Weekly weights for each divided into 8 pens and two of them left as a service animal within the different groups were recorded to area. Each pen was 2x3 m. and has a separate door and the nearest 0.5 kg. Animals were weighed at 7:0 am equipped with a metal feed trough and a plastic water before feeding. container. The roof was made of corrugated metal Two animals of each experimental treatment sheets, slopping from the middle (3-2.5 m) to the side, were selected randomly for slaughter at the slaughter supported with metal pipes. The ground was made of Platform. The animals were fasted overnight and had concrete with reasonable inclination for drainage.
access to water prior being slaughtered according to the Muslim practice. The animals were weighed and Experimental animals: Authors followed the "International Animal Ethics Committee guideline" then the slaughter weight was recorded. Appendages for use of animals in the study. Animals used in this (head, tail, skin and feet) were weighed each study belong to Sudan desert sheep (Ashugr separately. The animal then was eviscerated on a full ecotype).Twenty four animals at average age of 3-4 linea alba incision. Visceral organs, (liver, spleen, month were purchased from local market, then kidney, pancreas, intestines full and empty, omental transported to location of study.The animals were fats and genitals) and Pluck (Heart, lungs and trachea rested, watered, and then ear-tagged and treated and diaphragm), were separated each and weighed. against internal parasites using albendazole . They Kidney knob and channel fat were collected and were also treated for external parasites using topical weighed. The alimentary tract was weighed full and pyrithrins (Cyper-methrine spray, Cyper, Holland). then empty to calculate the contents (fill). The fill was The Animals were offered the control feed for subtracted from the slaughter weight to obtain the adaptation during the first two weeks. Then, the empty body weight (EBW). Warm carcass weight was animals were weight-distributed and randomly recorded. Then the warm carcass was split into right allotted to four treatments A, B, C and D, 6 lambs per and left halves by sawing along the vertebral column. treatment. The experiment lasted for 10 weeks.
Each half was weighed separately. The left half was then divided into fore and hind saddles cutting by cutting proximal to ala of the os ileum of the pelvic girdle. The fore saddle was separated into two anterior and posterior parts between the 5th and 6th ribs. The anterior part was separated into two cuts neck and shoulder and brisket and foreshank by cutting mid distance horizontally parallel to the vertebral column. The posterior part was separated also into two cuts rack (upper) and plate (lower) by cutting mid distance horizontally parallel to the vertebral column. The weight of each commercial cut was recorded [7]. Meat samples for sensory evaluation were taken Animal Feeding: Four isocaloric (10 MJ ME/kg) and from the Longissimus dorsi muscle over the loin isonitrogenous (14% CP) rations were formulated region of the right half and were kept in a deep freezer (Table 1) Total weight gain was in the range of 10.67-5.59 and cooked in an electric oven at 300 C for ten minutes. Five panelists were selected randomly out of kg. This finding is similar to that reported by [10] for ten who are trained on the sensory procedure. Cooked Sudan desert sheep for 45 days (5.30 -8.59 kg) and [11] meat samples were served warm in small pieces for desert sheep (9.84-11.49 kg) but lower than the randomly to panelists. The panelists were asked to results reported by [8] in Awassi lambs for 90 days score color, tenderness, flavor and juiciness out of an (13.48-15.65 kg) . Treatments significantly (p<0.05) eight sensory evaluation unit scale. Water was used by affected total weight gain as ration A and C showed panelists for masking taste.
highest gain and ration D gave the lowest gain. Daily feed intake in this trial was 1.17-0.94 kg. This is in Statistical Analysis: Data was subjected to SPSS accordance with the findings reported by [9] in Awassi program version 10 Treatments significantly (p<0.05) affected feed These findings were lower than the results reported by intake as ration D practiced the lowest intake. Daily [8] for body weight in Awassi lambs at same age dry matter intake and daily energy intake showed no (26.05-30.66 kg) and by [9] who reported 24.6-24.97 significant (p<0.05) difference among treatments. kg. Normal values for initial weights of experimental Feed conversion ratio in this study is 8.12-7.68 groups exhibit insignificant variations in weight due to which is in agreement with the results reported by [14] different backgrounds of breeds, breeding systems, who found a range of 8.74 to 6.48 and [13] who raising conditions and nutritional experience. Final reported 7.63 kgfeed/ kh gain. Treatments showed no body weight at 7 month of age in this study was 29.21significant differences. 24.10 kg which is lower than the results depicted by Table-3 shows average dressing out percentages Mousa [8] in Awassi lambs (36.86-40.06 kg) and by on slaughter weight and on empty body basis values of [9] who reported 42.46-49.86 kg. The final weights as they were statistically similar, but the trend is that it Desert lambs fed different levels of sugar beet bulbs increases at low and medium beet bulb replacements for 70 days. Treatment effect was not significant (11-22%) and decreases below the control at (p>0.05) on slaughter and empty body weights and maximum beet bulb replacement (33%). also in dressing percentages on both slaughter and   It is concluded from study results that replacing and left halves, leg, neck and shoulder and brisket and sorghum grains with Sugar Beet bulb can reduce foreshank. For the percentages, values of the different cuts in treatment groups were following an irregular mutton production cost without significantly affecting pattern.
lamb carcass traits and meat attributes up to 22%. The wholesale cuts values reported by [17] and differences in managerial techniques.
of animal production and manager of Rural and Table-5 shows average subjective assessment Development center are also acknowledged for providing values of meat quality attributes of lambs fed different the experimental house. levels of sugar beet bulb for 70 days.

Competing interests
Group A had the best tenderness (100%) while a least tenderness attribute (80%) was for groups C and The authors declare that they have no competing D. For flavor and color percent, all groups are equal at interests.

Table-4. Analysis of variance and average (mean ± SD) weights (kg) of carcass cuts and their percentages out of the warm carcass of lambs fed different levels of sugar beet bulb for 70 days
Means in a row bearing the same letter or no letter subscript are similar (p>0.05).